188 USEFUL BIRDS. 
largely on cankerworms, going long distances from its nest 
to get these caterpillars to feed to its young. Since one of 
these birds was seen to eat fifty-two caterpillars of the gipsy 
moth in a few minutes, it seems probable that it may yet be 
ranked among the efficient enemies of this pest. Case bear- 
ers, leaf rollers, and many other destructive caterpillars are 
greedily devoured, and it also catches and eats both butter- 
flies and moths in considerable numbers. 
Along the borders of woods it is very destructive to many 
beetles, flies, and especially to plant lice, of some species 
of which it is very fond. It often goes to grain fields, 
where, so Wilson says, it eats insects that infest them. 
Oven-bird. Golden-crowned Thrush. “Teacher Bird.” 
Seiurus aurocapillus. 
Length. — Six to six and one-half inches. 
Adult. — Olive-brown above; crown dull orange or yellowish-buff, bordered by 
black stripes; white below; breast and sides streaked with blackish. 
Nest.— On the ground in woods, often on knoll or hillside; generally roofed, 
with entrance on lower side; usually made of sticks, rootlets, leaves, etc., 
and lined with hairs; that from which the accompanying cut was made 
was built entirely of pine leaves or ‘‘ needles.” 
Eggs.— Creamy white, spotted with brown and faint lilac. 
Season. — May to September. 
How well I stiil recall that panorama of the dim woods 
that passed before my eyes when as a child of eight years I 
first began to wander off at daybreak to learn the secrets of 
nature. As I first stole through the shadows down the 
back of “ Muddy Pond Hill,” where the “cotton-tail rabbit” 
bounded away before me, where the “ Partridge” burst into 
thunderous flight amid a whirl of scattered leaves, and 
dashed away through bending twigs and swaying branches, 
every sight and sound impressed itself vividly upon my 
youthful mind, but none made a more lasting impression 
than the song of the Oven-bird. To me the bird then 
seemed to say chick’, KercHick’, KERCHICK’, repeating 
its single phrase an indefinite number of times, while the 
silent woods, acting as a sounding board, rang and rever- 
berated with the crescendo strain. Later, when I lingered 
in the woods at evening until the stars came out and the 
